Convertible couch.



F. M. TINKHAM. CONVERTIBLE COUCH. APPLICATION FILED 11:13.11. 1911.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

2 HHEBT8-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR, fiazzm'mM fl'idfiez/z, By

A TTORNEY.

WITNESSES.- W%% M, 7 W/iW/M F. M. TINKHAM. CONVERTIBLE COUCH.APPLIOATION FILED PEB.17,1911. 1,107,729. Patented Aug. 18, 1914 2BHEETB-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES.- IN VENTOR, W Evin/J" If %/U4/ 8 Y L 7 A TTORNEY.

1 FATE once.

FRANCIS M. TI'NKHAM, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

CONVERTIBLE COUCH.

Patented Aug. 18, 1914:.

Serial No. 609,156.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. TINK- HAM, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and Stateof Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements inConvertible Couches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in convertible couches, theobject of the invention being to provide a couch that may readily bechanged from a sofa or a divan into a full sized bed, when open. Theconstruction is such that the springs which support the mattresses, whenused as a bed, are adapted to be folded one over the other when closed,and to receive a couch mattress on the upper side from that in which thebed mattresses are placed.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for readilyopening and closing the structure with as little effort as possible, andto accomplish this a rockershaft is employed to which is connected a setof links at its opposite ends which are located between the lowersupporting frame and movable frames so that when the operator moves oneend of the movable frame the other end will be simultaneously moved;also to provide a track-way for receiving an anti-friction roller thatis located at one edge of the movable frame, the opposite side of themovable frame being provided with a roller which engages the floor.

A further object of the invention is to provide spacing bars so as tomaintain the foldable frame at a fixed distance from the slidable framebetween which the bed mat tresses may be placed when closed, or in afolded position.

A further object is to provide the ends of the lower supporting framewith panels for concealing the structural parts and give it theappearance of a divan or couch.

Broadly, the invention consists of a lower supporting frame and twomovable frames comprising intermediate and upper bed sections pivotedtogether and adapted to fold relative to each other to form a couch andto open into the same plane to form a bed surface on which mattressesmay be placed, and means for permitting the two frames to move togetheron the fixed frame.

In the drawings forming part of this ap plication,-Figure 1 is a planview showing the structure in a closed or folded position is to be usedas a bed.

when used as a divan or couch. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1clearly illustrating the relation of the wire fabric and the panels atthe end of the lower supporting frame. Fig. 3 is an end elevation ofFig. 1, the section being taken on the line 33 of this figure, andillustrating the structure with the end panels removed. Fig. t is an endelevational view of Fig. 3 but with the foldable frames in an openposition, when used as a bed. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view onthe line 55, Fig. 1, showing the two foldable bed-frames in closedposition, when used as a couch or divan.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a designates the lower supportingframe and Z) the intermediate movable frame. The lower supporting framea is provided with supporting legs 0 and (Z at its opposite ends, whichare transversely connected at their upper portions by means of theangle-iron e, the horizontal web f of which provides a run-way orsupport for the rollers g which are secured to the short depending legsh of the intermediate movable frame I) The opposite sides of this frameis provided with legs 2' which reach the floor and have a roller jsecured thereto which supports the side of the intermediate movableframe 6 when in an open or closed position. The upper portions of thelegs h and i are connected together by means of the transverselyarranged angle'iron on; 70 and 70 designate longitudinal bars ofangleiron which brace and strengthen the movable frame b longitudinally.

0 designates an upper frame that is directly and pivotally connected tothe intermediate movable and laterally slidable frame b by means of thehinge p, and serves to support a couch mattress when the structure isused as a divan.

g designates spacing members of strapiron that are secured to the framesZ) and 0 near their front outer sides and are for the purpose of spacingthese frames at definite distances from each other when the frame 0 isfolded down into the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 5, whereby the wovenwire mattress fabrics '2" and s are definitely spaced from each other.This space .is for receiving the two bed mattresses which can be used,when the frame is opened into the position shown in Fig. 4:, when thecouch t designates a brace-bar that connects the opposite outer ends ofthe frame 0, these ends of angle-iron being designated by the letter 14,as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The spring r is for receiving a couch mattress to.

The valance rod, which is designated by w, is located. on the front sideof the frame 0 and is for the purpose of throwing the valance,designated by 3 up onto the mattress w when the frame 0 is to be openedinto the position shown in Fig. 4:, and the structure used as a bed. Thecouch mattress w is not used when it is converted into a bed.

2 designates a rock-shaft which extends the entire length of the lowersupporting frame a, and rigidly connected to the opposite ends of thisshaft is a link 3 which is pivoted to the link 4 at the point 5,- thelink 4 being pivoted to the intermediate frame I) at the point 6.

From this construction it will be seen that when the intermediate frameZ) is drawn outward from its position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown inFig. 4E, this outward movement will be transmitted to the opposite endof the frame 7) by means of the links and rocker-shaft.

After the frames 6 and 0 have been drawn out substantially the width ofthe lower supporting frame a, the frame 0 is turned on the hinge 79relative to the frame a until it assumes the position shown in Fig. 4:,and the frame 0 rests at its outer edge on the brace-bar 7, as clearlyshown in Fig. 2 at the point 8. The brace-bar 7 also serves the purposeof securing the end panel members 9 to the frame a in order to give thecouch, when in a folded position, the effect of a divan by concealingthe structural or framework of the couch. The panel members 9 arefurther secured to the frame a by means of the bolts 10, a section ofwhich is shown in Fig. 3. Located in the bottom portion of the frame ais a box 11 for re ceiving and placing bedding therein.

he operation of the extensible couch is as follows: First, referring toFig. 3 in which the same is shown closed and adapted to be used as adivan but with the panel members 9 removed, the mattresses, which serveas the bed portion, are placed within the space between the fabrics rand s as shown in dotted lines, and the couch mattress w is locatedabove the fabric 1" and serves for the sofa. The mattress w is pro videdwith. a suitable covering, the valance portion of which c nceals theside portion of the structure. The frame 0, which supports the mattress,is held in its horizontal position by means of the hinge 79 and thespacing bars 9.

Should it be desired to convert the sofa into an extensible bed, thevalance rod :0 is

thrown upward in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3, carryingthe valance portion y on top of the mattress to before the removal fromthe wire fabric 0. The operator then pulls outward on the frame 6, whichoperation rotates the rock-shaft 2, and, through the links 3 and 4, themovement is transmitted to the opposite end of the couch which causesthat end of the frame Z2 to move out on the rails e and carries with itthe frame 0, which is attached thereto. On account of the considerablelength of the frame 6 the rock-shaft 2 and the links 3 and 4 assist inthe opening operation and thus maintain rigidity of the frame 5 and makethe opening operation much easier. The links 3 are rigidly attached tothe rock-shaft 2 and thus cause both ends of the frame 6 .to movetogether, which they would not do if they were loosely at tached to therock-shaft. The operator then rotates the upper frame 0 on the hinge gountil it assumes the position shown in Fig. 4, and the mattresses, whichform the bed, are placed on the wire fabrics a" and s, as shown in Fig.4:. The fabrics r and 8 lie in the same horizontal plane with the resultthat there is no opening between the meet ing edges thereof.

From this construction, it will be seen that I have provided aconvertible couch and bed structure which be readily interchanged fromone to the other.

The operations for closing the structure and converting the same into acouch are, of course, the reverse of those just described.

WVhat I claim, is

1. A convertible couch bed combination, with a lower supporting frame,an intermediate and an upper bed frame section, said sections beingpivotally connected to each other and adapted to be folded into the sameor parallel horizontal planes, in order to provide a substantiallycontinuous surface, when the structure is used as a bed, and asupporting surface, when the same is used as a couch, means to move saidsections together, while in a foldable position, on the said lowersupporting frame, when opening and closing the structure, one of theside edges of the upper bed frame section being supported on a bracketof the lower supporting frame, when used as a bed, and the side edge ofthe intermediate section being supported on the floor, the inner edgesof the upper and intermediate sections being pivotally connectedtogether and supported on the lower frame, substantially as described.

2. A convertible bed or couch comprising, a l wer supporting frame, anintermediate bed frame section and an upper bed frame section, saidintermediate section being connected to the lower supporting frame tohaving in slide thereon by means of a trackway on for spacing theintermediate and upper sections from each other when closed.

3. In a couch bed, the combination with a lower supporting frame, a rockshaft mounted therein and located near one side thereof, an intermediatebed-frame section, link connections between the opposite ends of therock-shaft and the intermediate section, one side of said intermediatesection being adapted to engage the floor and the other side a trackwayon the lower supporting frame, when opening and closing the structure,an upper bed-frame section pivotally connected to said intermediatesection, means for spacing the intermediate and upper sections from eachother when closed, and means to permit the frames to lie in the samehorizontal plane when open.

4. In a convertible couch, the combination with a lower supportingframe, a trackway thereon, an intermediate bed-frame section, an upperbed frame section, said sections bemg hlnged together and adapted toengage the trackway at the hinged side when in a folded position, one ofsaid sections engaging the floor, whereby the hinged sections may bedrawn away from the supporting frame before the hinged sections areopened, substantially as described.

5. In a structure of the kind described, a lower supporting frame, anupper and an intermediate bed frame section mounted thereon and pivotedto each other, to be opened to form a bed or closed to form a couch ordivan, means secured to each of the bed frame sections to space the samefrom each other, when closed, to form a storage compartment, said meanscomprising projections at the outer edges of the bed frame sections.

6. A convertible couch and bed comprising upper and intermediate bedframes for receiving a woven wive fabric, said frames being directlyhinged together, and one of said frames having supporting means toengage the floor at one of its sides and a lower supporting frame at theother or pivoted side, the other hinged frame being supported by thefirst hinged frame at its pivoted side, when in an open position to forma bed, and supported on an edge of said lower supporting frame at itsopposite side, substantially as described.

7. A combined couch and bed structure comprising, a lower supportingframe and two foldable bed sections,

said sections being intermediate section which is lower end to theopposite side of to engage the floor, and the upper bed-frame frame whenin an open directly pivoted together to form a bed, whenopen, and acouch, when closed, interconnecting means between one of the foldablesections and the lower supporting frame to permit the foldable sections,when in a folded position, to move laterally with respect to the lowersupporting frame, a rock shaft mounted in the lower, supporting frame,and link connections between the shaft and one of said foldablesections, as described.

8. A combined couch and bed structure comprising a lower supportingframe and two movable and foldable bed-frames, the said foldable framesbeing directly pivoted together to form a bed when open, and a couchwhen closed, connecting means between one of the movable and foldableframes and the lower supporting frame to permit them to move laterallywith respect to each other, a rock-shaft mounted in the lower supportingframe projecting means on the foldable frames, engaging each other, tospace the movable foldable frames from each other when in their foldedor couchforming position, and located near the outer edge of thefoldable frames.

9. A convertible couch comprising a lower supporting f'ame having atrack-way extending transversely thereof, a bed-frame having legs at oneside for engaging the floor, and a pair of short legs at its oppositeside provided with rollers for engaging the track-way, a secondbed-frame directly pivoted to the first bed-frame and adapted to foldover the first frame when closed to form a couch, and, into the sameplane when the second frame is in an open position, and the first frameis drawn out on the fixed frame whereby a bed surface is formed.

10. A convertible bed or couch, comprising a lower supporting frame, atrackway thereon, an intermediate bed frame section, slidable on saidtrackway, an upper bedframe section pivotally connected to saidintermediate section and adapted to be partially rotatable in relationthereto, a bracket mounted on said lower section and adapted to supportsaid upper section when the couch is opened, a rock shaft mounted insaid lower section, link connections between each end of the rock shaftand each end of said intermediate section, whereby both ends of thelatter move in unison during the opening and closing operations.

11. A convertible bed or couch, comprising a lower supporting frame, atrackway thereon, an intermediate bed frame section, a pair of legs onsaid intermediate section in en gagemcnt with the floor, a second pair 0legs on said intermediate section provided with rollers in engagementwith said trackway, said intermediate section being slidable on saidlower section, an upper bed frame section pivotally connected to saidintermediate section and partially rotatable in rela- 'tion, and spacingmeans to maintain said tlon thereto, a bracket mounted on said upper andintermediate sectlons 1n parallel 10 lower section and adapted tosupport saicl planes.

upper section When the couch is opened a 5' rock shaft mounted in saidlower section aind FRANCIS TINKHAM' extending the entire length thereof,link Witnesses: connections between each end of the rock WM. H. CHAPIN,shaft and each end of the intermediate sec- HARRY W. BOWEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

